BOSTON – Kobe Bryant expressed his “love” for new Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni but debunked a myth that he broke into the NBA wearing No. 8 in honor of the former Italian star.

It’s been widely reported Bryant wore No. 8 most of his career in honor of D’Antoni, whom Bryant grew up watching in Italy. Bryant switched to “24” two years ago.

“I wore 8 for something different,” Bryant told The Post. “I love Mike. Mike’s my man, but it had nothing to do with him. It’s a myth, but I love him though.”

Bryant will play under D’Antoni, an assistant coach, in the Summer Olympics in August.

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Phil Jackson sounded like a believer in the conspiracy theory that Wolves GM Kevin McHale purposely kept Kevin Garnett from the Lakers.

Jackson went out of his way to note the irony that the Lakers nearly obtained Garnett before McHale gift-wrapped him to his former team last summer.

“We gave a great chase to Garnett last year and put a lot of pressure on the Minnesota franchise and felt we had the inside track,” Jackson said. “That we would end up missing out on that opportunity and still be here in this Finals is really kind of a great story in itself.”

Bryant on whether Boston’s Big 3 needs a title to validate their careers: “Depends on what club you’re talking about? Are you talking about the Jordan-Magic club? If you want to get to that club, you have to win. The other club you don’t have to win. Depends on what club you want to get into – the 21-and-over or the 18-and-under?”